Brentford complete deal for El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham

Brentford have completed the signing of El Hadji Malick Diouf from West Ham in a deal worth up to £40m, according to BBC Sport.

The 21-year-old Senegalese left-back has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, with Brentford holding an option to extend it by a further year. The agreement includes an initial £35m payment, with £5m more in add-ons.

Back to the Premier League

Diouf returns to the Premier League after West Ham’s relegation last season. As the BBC notes, the transfer represents a big profit for West Ham, who paid £19m for him from Slavia Prague a year ago.

The article also explains that Diouf played in West Ham’s Championship opener against Burnley, but was then left out of matchday squads for two subsequent games while the deal was finalised. Brentford had identified him as their main defensive target in the window, with talks stalling earlier in the summer before being reopened earlier this week.

A project with ambition

Brentford’s management believe the move fits a long-term plan. Head coach Keith Andrews said Diouf matches the club’s “ideal age profile” and still has “room to keep developing”. Diouf, when asked about his ambition after joining, replied: “Why not win the league?”

Indoors at West Ham, Diouf contributed 34 appearances last season, providing five assists. For Brentford, he is their fifth signing of the summer, adding to arrivals of Callum Wilson, Mamadou Sangare, Jannik Schuster and Jaidon Anthony. Diouf also featured for Senegal at this summer’s World Cup, playing four matches.